Decorative container sleeves to maintain temperature for food products

ABSTRACT

A sleeve for displaying prepared food acquired from a provider in a disposable container or a beverage in a can or bottle needing temperature control is formed of a thermally insulating material such as neoprene or a silicone-based material that has been sized and dimensioned to receive a disposable container from a food provider, or a beverage container. The sleeve may have a bottom portion, and has non-commercial decorative indicia on its outer side to provide an enhanced and decorative appearance to shield from view the logo or advertising of the provider, or a message such as “Congratulations” or other message of support. The sleeve also may have a gel pack that can be inserted within to provide a cooling or heated effect for the contained food or beverage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to decorative sleeves dimensioned and sized so as to be used with food or beverage containers that might be received from a fast food provider such as a delicatessen to provide an enhanced serving experience, and includes a gel pack to provide a cooling or heated effect for the food contained in the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Very often a person entertaining at home or perhaps tailgating at a concert or sports event may have acquired food purchased from a fast food outlet, a delicatessen or the like; and such food products are often provided in disposable containers typically holding 8 oz., 16 oz. or 24 oz. or even larger servings of prepared food to be served later. These disposable containers are not designed to be long-lasting, are often not sufficiently insulating for adequate food safety, and are often non-descriptive or may have printing on the outer side promoting the source of the prepared food. Such advertising or plain outer surface may not be welcomed by the ultimate user who may be entertaining others by use of such food products; and a longer-lasting container for serving the food in a more pleasing manner may be desired. Further, for reasons relating to food safety, the cooling or heating of the food product, or beverage, may be desired as well. And often containers for beverages in bottles or cans to be subject to temperature control are of differing sizes and the present invention provides temperature control fro food or beverage containers of differing sizes.

Typically, therefore, prepared food is removed from the container within which it had been acquired, and placed in serving dish or container which later will require cleaning. Or the product may be stored or transported for awhile, or left on a table for use for a period of time; and thus it is desirable to provide some thermal insulation and temperature control to maintain the food product either at a cool temperature or a heated temperature, as desired. Similarly, beverage containers of differing sized cans or bottles may require some thermal control to keep, for example, a soda cold and coffee hot.

Some products are known, such as the portable cooler for a beverage container described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,161,031, for cooling a can containing a beverage, but no non-commercial decoration is provided for the outer surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,089 describes a cooler for beverage container describing a belt holding gel packets attached to its interior surface that may be wrapped around a beverage can and help in place by hook-and-loop fasteners. Such gel packs are held in direct contact with the beverage can which can supply uneven heat or cooling effect. Again, no non-commercial decoration is provided for the outer surface; and such decoration may well be desired for a festive occasion, or tailgating at a sporting event by displaying the logo of the team being supported, or statements such as “Congratulations Graduate” or “Welcome Home” at a specialized party.

Published United States patent application 2006/0186129 describes an insulating sleeve with attached pockets for receiving cards or the like, or having decorative accessories attached as noted in the description of FIG. 17; but again the useful combination of a sleeve having non-commercial decorative indicia on its outer side to provide an enhanced decorative appearance to shield from view the logo or advertising of the food provided, or a message such as “Congratulations” or message of support with an inner surface of a gel pack or packs applied to provide an even cooling or heated effect for the food contained in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a decorative sleeve of flexible material, which may be neoprene or perhaps a silicone-based material is provided that fits around the outside of a food or beverage container to (1) provide a more decorative non-commercial appearance to cover from view any commercial logo or advertising of the provider, (2) provides insulation to maintain the food or beverage at a more desired temperature, and (3) may include gel packs that can be used to maintain the food or beverage within the container evenly at a more desired temperature.

Clean up is simple, inasmuch as the decorative sleeve does not come in contact with the food or beverage; it can easily be rinsed for cleaning. Further, inasmuch as the decorative sleeve is flexible, it can easily be flattened for storage or packaged for shipment and retail sale.

The present invention includes a sleeve to be used for displaying prepared food acquired from a provider in a disposable container, including a sleeve formed of a thermally insulating material sized and dimensioned to receive such disposable container, the sleeve having non-commercial indicia thereon to provide an enhanced appearance. The sleeve may be be made from such materials as a silicone-based material, or neoprene, or a material such as corrugated cardboard that is able to provide some thermal insulation; and holds in its interior a shielded a gel pack or packs to provide an even cooling or heated temperature control for the food contained in the container. Such a sleeve can also be used for a can or bottle or other container for a beverage; even such containers of varying sizes.

The sleeve may be provided with a bottom for receiving the food container, and a top, and sized to receive food containers that may have dimensions of 8 oz., 16 oz., 24 oz. or even 32 oz. servings of prepared food.

These and other objects, and advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the descriptions given below which is made in conjunction with the following drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a decorative sleeve of the present invention having a bottom portion to receive a food container;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a decorative sleeve of the present invention in a sleeve format without a bottom;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the gel pack that may be used with a decorative sleeve of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the insertion of the gel pack into a decorative sleeve of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, decorative sleeves 10 of the present invention may be made of a flexible material such as neoprene or a silicone-based material well known in the food container and implement industry, and can easily be flattened to be inserted in packages for shipment, retail sale or storage. The decorative sleeve of FIG. 1 has a bottom 12, and may be fitted with a top 14. As shown, a food container 16 may be fitted into the sleeve 10.

The decorative sleeve of FIG. 1 has an inner surface 13 preferably formed of the flexible material such as neoprene or a silicone-based material and has an inner layer 19 of gel material that may, as known in the trade, be cooled, frozen or even heated to provide some temperature control of the food product in the container 16 and held interiorly within the sleeve 10.

FIG. 2 shows how a decorative sleeve 20 without a bottom portion. The decorative sleeve 20 is formed of two layers of a flexible material such as neoprene or a silicone-based material well known in the food container and implement industry that may be sealed at its upper and lower edges to provide an envelope that may receive a gel pack 22 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The gel pack may be if desired kept in place by sewing or hook-and-loop materials at the sleeve ends; or the sleeve ends may be kept open to allow the gel pack itself to be cooled or heated for use. The decorative sleeve 20 can be wrapped around a food container of various sizes and secured in place by mating hook-and-loop materials 23 and 24.

As understood by one skilled in the field, various designs and indicia can be supplied to the sleeves 10 or 20 as desired; and it is an important part of the present invention to provide decorative sleeves that have non-commercial indicia, including symbols chosen by the end user, such as a sports team logo, and are thermally insulating with temperature control and can be flattened for packaging. Yet, the containers can be easily cleaned, usually a simple rinsing will be sufficient, and can be reused.

The material of the decorative sleeves is itself thermally insulating; and gel packs may be inserted between layers of the insulating material so that the insulating material of the sleeve itself can more evenly apply temperature control to the food or beverage contents.

These and other objects, features and advantages to my invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the field, and my invention is not considered limited by the above detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, and I define my invention by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sleeve to be used for displaying prepared food acquired from a provider in a disposable container, or a beverage, includes a sleeve formed of a thermally insulating material sized and dimensioned to receive such disposable container, said sleeve having non-commercial indicia on an outer surface to provide an enhanced appearance and has an interior gel pack to provide a cooling or heated effect for the food contained in the disposable container; said sleeve being made from a material able to be flattened yet regain its shape when desired.
 2. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1, said material being a silicone based material.
 3. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2, said indicia being decorative.
 4. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2, said indicia indicating support for a team at a sporting event.
 5. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1, said material being neoprene.
 6. A sleeve as set forth in claim 5, said indicia being decorative.
 7. A sleeve as set forth in claim 5, said indicia indicating support for a team at a sporting event.
 8. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1, said indicia being decorative.
 9. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1, said indicia indicating support for a team at a sporting event.
 10. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1, said sleeve having spaced interior and exterior surfaces and a gel pack being inserted therebetween.
 11. A sleeve as set forth in claim 10, said material being a silicone based material.
 12. A sleeve as set forth in claim 11, said indicia being decorative.
 13. A sleeve as set forth in claim 11, said indicia indicating support for a team at a sporting event.
 14. A sleeve as set forth in claim 10, said material being neoprene.
 15. A sleeve as set forth in claim 14, said indicia being decorative.
 16. A sleeve as set forth in claim 14, said indicia indicating support for a team at a sporting event. 